Nicklaus: McIlroy must maintain focus

24/06/2011

Open championship hospitality guests looking to cheer on golf's newest major winner Rory McIlroy at Sandwich next month may be interested in some words of advice he has been given by one of golf's all-time greats.

Jack Nicklaus offered his thoughts on how McIlroy should handle the added attention that will come his way now that he is a major winner.

The American, who was also 22 when he won his first major at the US Open, said on his website: "He needs to make certain golf is the first thing, as well as his motivation and desire to be great."

Nicklaus added McIlroy's success at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland could ease some of the pressure he will face at the Open, which Nicklaus said could be the "biggest tournament in the world to him".

After his victory in the US, McIlroy is hoping to spend some time away from the course to prepare himself for the challenge of the Open.

"I've got three weeks off and then the British Open. So I'm just going to take it easy for the next couple of weeks and let it sink in," he said.